Written Answers Nos. 248-275
248. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media his response to the findings of the ESRI Report of 25 April 2025, “Profiling Short-Term Let Usage Across Ireland”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21777/25]
View answerI welcome the ESRI’s research, published on 25 April, profiling Short Term Letting (STL) usage across Ireland.
The research is based on data scraped from one STL platform at a point in time in September 2023. This data is less complete than the Fáilte Ireland data, which is up to date, gives a monthly breakdown and is based on data-scraping from the four largest booking platforms operating in Ireland. The ESRI report acknowledges that the data in its report is not wholly representative of the entire STL sector in Ireland and that there are also limitations associated with the geographic information provided. The anonymisation of the STL property locations means that exact matching with property level data from other sources such as the Residential Tenancies Board's rental register data and the Property Services Regulatory Authority's Property Price Register is not possible.
One of the report's findings is that establishing a detailed and comprehensive register covering all STL activity across Ireland is a crucial first step towards informed policymaking and this is an action to which my colleague, Minister Peter Burke TD, is committed to in the context of his role as Minister with responsibility for tourism. Formal transfer of this function will be given effect in the coming weeks by Government Order.
On 15 April, Minister Burke secured Cabinet approval to implement a register for all STLs in Ireland. It is intended that the STL register will be implemented on 20 May 2026 and will provide a full overview of STL stock in Ireland.
The ESRI report finds that policy responses to limit transfer of properties from the private rental sector to the STL sector are likely to be required, particularly in urban areas with large rental markets. On 15 April, my colleague Mr. James Browne TD, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, secured approval from Government for a new housing policy for STLs that will be set out in a National Planning Statement. This new policy will generally preclude new planning permissions for short term lets in cities and towns with a census population in excess of 10,000 persons, or as may be set by Regulations, and to enable local authorities have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in the guidance.
The ESRI report identified that between 2019-2023 the proportion of total listings for entire properties increased from 56.4% to 66.2%. It found that the number of whole property listings increased by 17.6% and there was a fall in private room listings of 22.3$. This aligns with Fáilte Ireland’s research which has found that, based on November 2024 data, there are approximately 32,000 STL properties in the State currently being advertised online and up to 64% of these properties are full houses and apartments. This research also points to an ongoing annual 10% increase in the size of the STL sector.
Minister Burke is fully aware of the genuine concerns regarding the impacts on rural tourism and local economies of removing a significant cohort of STL properties from the tourism market and he continues to engage with the sector in this regard. However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critically important consideration and this Government is committed to using every lever available to assist in meeting the range of housing need.
Minister Burke’s officials continue to engage with sectoral and stakeholder representatives and indeed met as recently as Tuesday 29 April to discuss the introduction of the new regulatory controls for the STL sector.
249. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on the national swimming strategy launched in August 2024, in particular progress on participation in swimming by primary school students as well as plans for capital programmes for swimming pool modernisation and for new swimming pools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/25]
View answerIreland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers. The Strategy also endeavours to support additional opportunities for young people to access swimming lessons within the primary school curriculum framework.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period. This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities. Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan will be shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. In the coming period, Sport Ireland will establish an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
250. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the Government’s strategy for supporting athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21781/25]
View answerFor the Paris Olympic cycle 2021-2024, the Government provided a record-level investment of approximately €89 million towards high performance sport. This was a substantial increase on the €59 million invested for the previous Tokyo cycle. In line with the Government’s target of delivering €30 million per annum for high performance sport by 2027, as indicated in the National Sports policy 2018-2027, Sport Ireland has announced that €27 million will be invested in high performance sport in 2025.
This increased funding for high performance sport will reflect, in particular, our High Performance Strategy 2021-2032, which provides the over-arching policy framework for the development of our high performance system for the next two Olympiads in Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
The task ahead is to sustain and build on what has been achieved to date. More athletes, coaches on stable contracts, and additional services will be needed in the coming years to enable national sporting bodies to carry through well-funded, stable high performance programmes. Therefore, the importance of collaboration in preparing for these Games, in particular between Sport Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport should also be recognised.
With the benefit of considerable support from the Government, I am confident that Team Ireland's participation in the next Olympic and Paralympic Games will build on the successes of recent Games.
251. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which a community can apply for a piece of infrastructure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21787/25]
View answerIreland’s first National Swimming Strategy was published in August 2024 and it sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. The working group tasked with developing the Strategy consisted of representatives from my Department, Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland, Ireland Active and the local authorities.
The resultant Strategy includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period. This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan will be shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. In the coming period, Sport Ireland will establish an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
252. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the development of the Corrib Sports & Adventure Centre at the Dyke Road, Terryland, Galway under Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth Facilities Centres for Water Based Activities along the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21946/25]
View answerThe Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
253. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of new hotels built and opened outside Dublin since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21958/25]
View answerThe Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland as "hotel" is a prescribed term and all hotels operating in Ireland as such must be registered on the Register of Hotels administered by Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
254. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta cén uair a fhoilseofar Treoirlínte Pleanála don Ghaeltacht, cén fáth a bhfuil moill ar an gcéanna ó 2021 i leith, cé air a bhfuil an locht don mhoill seo, agus cé na céimeanna práinneacha atá á nglacadh aige chun an bac seo a shárú i bhfianaise ghéarchéim na tithíochta sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. [21907/25]
View answer255. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to review or increase the income limits for social housing in the Louth and Meath local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21820/25]
View answer256. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to bring legislation before the Dáil which will ensure that those who have already been approved for defective concrete blocks grants can retrospectively benefit from the 10% grant increase, which was approved by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/25]
View answer257. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person (details supplied), who has submitted an appeal to the housing agency regarding the amount she was awarded under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, will still be eligible for the 10% grant increase if she withdraws her appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21860/25]
View answer258. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the progress of the affordable housing and social housing scheme in Ardmore, County Waterford, including expected timelines for delivery, number of homes and current status of planning and procurement. [21916/25]
View answerA proposal for a mixed tenure development at Tober Ciúin, Ardmore, Co Waterford was received by my Department from Waterford City and County Council. The proposal, which will deliver twenty social housing units, aligned with the Council’s housing needs assessment was approved by my Department on 20 February 2024. Following receipt of approval, Waterford City and County Council tendered for the contract to deliver this project and are currently assessing the tender applications received.
I understand the development is expected to be completed in 2027.
259. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the progress of the mixed affordable purchase, cost rental and social housing scheme at Fairlane, Dungarvan, County Waterford, including current status, projected timelines and breakdown of tenures proposed. [21917/25]
View answerA proposal for a mixed tenure development at Fairlane, Dungarvan, Co Waterford was received by my Department from Waterford City and County Council. A stage 1 proposal for a project which will deliver in the region of 70 housing units, was approved by my Department in March 2024. The breakdown of tenure type is not yet confirmed.
Waterford City and County Council has advised that a stage 2 application will be submitted shortly. The development is expected to be completed in 2028.
260. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta sonraí a thabhairt maidir le gach teagmháil agus comhoibriú idir a Roinn féin agus Rannóg na Gaeltachta sa Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta maidir le ceist ríthábhachtach na tithíochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta. [21918/25]
View answer261. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta sonraí a thabhairt ar gach comhoibriú agus idirghníomhaíocht idir a Roinn féin agus Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta, agus cén tacaíocht atá curtha ar fáil don Údarás ar an ábhar seo. [21919/25]
View answer262. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta cén uair a fhoilseofar Treoirlínte Pleanála don Ghaeltacht, cén fáth go bhfuil moill ar an gcéanna ó 2021 i leith, cén fáth go bhfuil an próiseas chomh mall agus cén fhreagracht atá á glacadh chun an mhoill a shárú. [21920/25]
View answer263. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase units, social housing units, cost rental units and serviced sites delivered in Waterford over the past ten years, or for the duration of each relevant scheme where schemes have been in existence for less than ten years, by local electoral area and by whether delivery was by the local authority or an approved housing body, in tabular form. [21921/25]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Comprehensive data on social and affordable housing is published on my Department's website up to Quarter 4 2024, including completed acquisitions: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
The Land Development Agency (LDA) has developed the State Lands Database which provides a detailed and mapped representation of the extent and location of lands owned by public bodies, including local authorities in Ireland.
The constraints and limitations with difficulties regarding data and ongoing land registration means that the LDA will continue to update the State Lands Database to take account of information from local authorities and other public bodies on entries/records provided, and as new publicly owned sites are added to the web map.
Details of the zoning status of lands identified in the State Lands Database are available as part of the information provided by the LDA. This zoning information is sourced from the MyPlan.ie platform which amalgamates the zoning information from statutory City and County Development Plans nationally.
The LDA has also completed the Register of Relevant Lands, being lands owned by local authorities and bodies listed under Schedule 1 and 2 of the Land Development Agency Act 2021, in urban population areas greater than 10,000. Both the State Lands Database and the Register of Relevant Lands are also available in an online map format on the LDA website at the following link: https://lda.ie/register-of-relevant-lands/map/
In addition, the Housing for All Land Acquisition Fund was established in 2022 to support local authorities to acquire land to deliver new build social housing schemes and this was extended in 2024 to include land for affordable housing. The fund has an overall allocation of €239m and is managed by the Housing Agency.
264. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of extant housing assistance payment tenancies at the end of each of the past ten years in Waterford, by local electoral area. [21922/25]
View answer265. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure on housing assistance payment tenancies in Waterford in each of the past ten years, by local electoral area. [21923/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. Data in relation to Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) can be found on my Department’s website at this link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#housing-assistance-payment.
This data includes the funding provided for the annual HAP landlord payment for Waterford County Council for the years 2019 to 2024. This funding represents the portion paid by my Department after receipt of the differential rent which is paid by the tenant to the local authority. It does not include administration costs related to the Scheme.
The following table sets out the number of active HAP tenancies to the end of 2024 for Waterford County Council Municipal areas, data is not held at local electoral area level. Data in relation to active tenancies, broken down by municipal area, for years 2014-2016 is not available.
Table 1: Details of the total number of active HAP tenancies in Waterford County Council, broken down by municipal area, at the end of each year 2017 to 2024:
*Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Waterford City and County Council, the tenancy is located outside of the county.
266. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of rental accommodation scheme properties at the end of each of the past ten years in Waterford, by local electoral area. [21924/25]
View answerMy Department does not hold data on Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) by local electoral area, but rather collects and publishes data by local authority area.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. Data in relation to active RAS tenancies for each of the last ten years can be found on my Department's website at the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/RAS_Funding_and_Delivery_Statistics_to_Q4_2024.xlsx
267. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing transfer applications on file at Waterford City and County Council as of the most recent date available, by local electoral area, and by the length of time the transfer request has been active (i.e. under one year, one to three years, three to five years, and over five years). [21925/25]
View answer268. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the number of staff approval requests made by Galway City Council in 2024; the number of staff approval requests made by Galway City Council in the current year to the end of March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21947/25]
View answerGalway City Council submitted staffing sanction requests for 91 posts to my Department during the period 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025, the sanction requests were in respect of both new and replacement posts. This number broken down by year is detailed in the following table:
|
Galway City Council |
Number of Posts Requested |
|
01/01/24 to 31/12/24 |
55 |
|
01/01/25 to 31/03/25 |
36 |
The recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and Publicjobs. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate.
269. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.149 of 9 April 2025, the timeline for addressing the outstanding issues highlighted in the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21985/25]
View answerIt is expected that a resolution to the legislative complexities that exist between the Local Government Acts and Official Languages Act may require primary legislation to resolve. The matter will be considered further by my Department in consultation with the relevant officials from the Gaeltacht division, which is currently part of a transfer of functions to the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). There are a number of policy decisions that will have to be finalised between both Departments, and considered by Government, particularly in relation to the role of the Council and the role of the Minister with responsibility for the Official Languages Act and the Placenames Commission.
My Department will be prioritising work around the establishment of a Local Democracy Taskforce and supporting is operation in the months ahead, with a view to that Taskforce concluding its deliberations by the end of the year. It could be expected that there may be legislative change to the Local Government Acts arising from its work which will be progressed in 2026. Work will continue with DRCD on the resolution of the placenames issue, with a view to agreeing revised policy and identification of any required legislative change. This is a complex matter to which careful consideration will have to be given.
270. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21753/25]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal for this customer was received and registered on the 31st of March, 2025. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.
Should the Department not be in a position to revise the Deciding Officer’s decision in favour of the appellant, the necessary documentation will be forwarded electronically to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Once that documentation is received, it will be assigned to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21812/25]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to medical assessment, a means test, and habitual residency conditions.
The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement. In this case, the means of the person concerned were reviewed.
Means are any income belonging to the person in receipt of DA and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property (except their own home), or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
Under the means assessment arrangements introduced from 26 September 2007, a spouse's earnings are calculated as gross earnings less PRSI, superannuation and union dues (since March 2009 pension levies are also deducted). Where the spouse is engaged in insurable employment, a disregard of €20 per day applies subject to a maximum of €60 per week, and the balance is assessed at 60%.
In the case concerned, the Deciding Officer used the spouse's payslip and, using the allowable deductions, the spouse's means were assessed as €242.02. The person concerned was assessed with capital of €342.00, therefore the total weekly means are €584.02 which exceeds the statutory limit of €406.00. Following the review, it was established that the person concerned does not meet the criteria for DA effective from 30 April 2025. The person concerned was notified on 15 April 2025 of this decision, the reason for it and their right of review and/or appeal.
The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme. The person concerned previously established an entitlement to Free Travel Medical (FTM) and will continue to hold an entitlement beyond the 29 April 2025 when their DA ends. A new card will issue to the customer’s address held by the Department.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a roadmap over the next number of Budgets in which carers in receipt of the carer’s allowance can expect the income disregards for the payment to increase; the date by which the means-test will then be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21990/25]
View answerThe Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2025 is expected to amount to over €1.9 billion on these payments.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 99,256 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.
The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to people whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because of their caring responsibilities. It is not and was never intended to be a payment for caring. The purpose of means testing is to target resources and support to those most in need.
The Programme for Government has clearly set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to ultimately phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
There have been significant improvements made to the income thresholds in the means test in recent years. The next change to the disregard will take place in July. The disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
It is also important to note that here are other supports for carers provided by the Department of Social Protection which are not based on a means assessment. These include the Carer’s Support Grant, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
273. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it is necessary for persons to present themselves at a welfare office to have a photo taken for a public service card; if there are plans to have this available to do online [SUBSTITUTE]; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20866/25]
View answerThe SAFE registration process is the process through which a person satisfies the Minister for Social Protection as to their identity. A customer's identity is verified by attending an in-person appointment at their local Public Services Card or Intreo SAFE Registration Centre. At their appointment the person provides evidence of their identity and address; their photo is taken and their signature is captured.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that since July 2024, residents on the island of Ireland, over the age of sixteen, who hold a current Irish passport can opt to verify their identity on-line, using the MyGovID app. The app is available to download for free from Apple and Google App Play Stores. Over a hundred thousand applications have been received using the online channel since it opened.
On verification of a person’s identity, using either channel, the person is issued with a Public Services Card which can be used as proof of their identity when accessing public services, collecting social protection payments or accessing Free Travel entitlement.
In addition, the person can set up a verified MyGovID account to access a range of online services provided by Irish public bodies. This provides assurance to the public body concerned as to the identity of the person they are dealing with on-line, helps to protect that person against the implications of on-line identity theft, and helps ensure that their data protection rights are protected.
274. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for disability allowance, between 2020 and the first quarter of 2025, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful; the number of applications rejected; the number of rejected applications appealed; the number of appeals granted; the average length of time from application to final decision, per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21759/25]
View answerThe requested figures for Disability Allowance are shown below. The figures for 'Average Weeks to Award' is the average time between an claim being registered and the claim being awarded for successful claims. Note that the figures for quarter 1 2025 correspond to 1 January - 31 March 2025.
|
- |
Claims Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Average Weeks to Award |
Appeals Registered |
Appeals Granted |
|
2020 |
20,671 |
15,686 |
13,559 |
6.9 |
6,661 |
4,714 |
|
2021 |
20,599 |
13,298 |
13,989 |
6.0 |
5,733 |
3,355 |
|
2022 |
26,021 |
13,817 |
14,593 |
7.0 |
5,637 |
3,144 |
|
2023 |
28,704 |
16,418 |
16,653 |
9.8 |
5,567 |
3,221 |
|
2024 |
29,177 |
18,657 |
20,343 |
8.3 |
9,041 |
3,293 |
|
2025 Q1 |
6,692 |
4,207 |
4,697 |
6.1 |
1,853 |
1,224 |
275. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the proposed abolition of the means test for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/25]
View answerThe Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.
The Programme for Government has set out a specific timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
There have been a number of significant changes made to the means test in recent years. From July, there will be a further increase which will see the weekly income disregard rise from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585 respectively since June 2022. These increases make the scheme accessible to more people and may increase payment rates for those currently on a reduced rate.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
